InteprersonalbyHB

="Setting" the Table for Teams= by Heidi Beezley

Overview
This team-building activity combines aspects of my favorite team-building activity, [|Broken Squares], with aspects of one of my favorite card games, [|Set]. Set is a card game where individuals compete to make the most sets of three cards. In this interactive game, rather than each player competing to make the most sets, a group of four must work together until each player has formed a set. However, it won't be easy, because they each have a set of cards that includes cards that someone else needs, and they'll have to follow the rules laid out in Broken Squares: no talking, no taking, no pointing, etc. in order to share cards until everyone has got their set.

Purpose
This activity would serve as a team-builder for the beginning stage of cooperative teaming and would be the team's first experience with solving problems together. Teams will need to be observant, consider the needs of other group members, problem-solve, and find creative ways to communicate because no one in the group will be successful unless the team works together. The game should be challenging, fun, and help the team achieve their first success working together. One small variation of the game would not only begin the team forming, but would also randomly assign students to groups.

Time Required
The game would take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete.
 * 1) **Introduction and Passing Out Materials** - 8-10 minutes
 * 2) **Playing the Game** - 10-20 minutes depending on the skill of participants
 * 3) **Group Debrief** - 10 minutes

Number of Participants
The minimum number of participants for this game is four individuals. There is no maximum number, although multiples of four are ideal. If the number of participants do not conform to a multiple of four, groups should be no fewer than three groups per team. When there are groups of three, the cards that would have belonged to a fourth player should be laid out in a shared pile for the other three team members. The team will still need to form four sets, but one of the sets will be worked on together.

Supplies Needed

 * 1) **The Rules -** To begin with, the facilitator will need a way for participants to refer to the rules of the game. Therefore, the rules may be posted on paper, projected, or may be available in handouts.
 * 2) **Sample Sets and Non Sets -** Because understanding the object of the game may be difficult (especially for younger participants), the facilitator may want to project or display samples of sets and non-sets and have participants identify these sets and non-sets in order to make sure that everyone understands the object of the game. [[file:Example&NonExamplesofSets.pdf|Download Samples]]
 * 3) **Envelopes with 3 Cards Each -** For every four people, the facilitator would need to provide a set of four envelopes. Within each of the envelopes will be three cards. The three cards within the envelope **will not** make a set. But all of the cards that a group of four have within their four envelopes will make four complete sets when combined.
 * 4) **Playing Surface -** Because the participants are expected to display their cards in front of them, the room for the activity would ideally have tables and chairs. If tables and chairs are not available, participants will need to sit on the floor.
 * 5) **Location for Debrief Notes -** In addition the facilitator should have a location for recording notes from the debrief discussion either electronically, on a dry-erase board, or on paper.
 * 6) **Solutions (optional) -** The facilitator may want to have a print out or way of projecting the solution sets either to display what may be a final result or to prove to disbelieving participants that there was, in fact, a solution.
 * 7) **Prizes (optional)** - The facilitator may want to offer prizes for the first few teams to finish as an incentive for working well together.
 * 8) **Follow Up Activity (optional)** - If there is time available, it would be a great idea to follow up the activity with another team builder that would allow the participants to begin to get to know one another.
 * **Contents of the Envelopes** || [[file:EnvelopeSets.pdf|Download Envelope Cards]] ||
 * [[image:EnvelopeSet_1_&_2.jpg width="396" height="511"]] || [[image:EnvelopeSet_3_&_4.jpg width="401" height="507"]] ||

Preparation

 * 1) Before using this activity with a group, the facilitator will need to print out enough sets of envelope cards for all participants, cut them up and put them in envelopes according to the image above.
 * 2) The facilitator ideally would have the following files ready to be displayed electronically (although they could be printed out or posted): The Rules, Sample Sets and Non Sets, and a Word Doc or other electronic medium for note-taking during the debrief.
 * 3) If the activity will also be used for randomly selecting cooperative groups, the facilitator should print the each set of four cards on different colored paper or use different colored envelopes for each group of four.

Introduction
"Hello, everybody! Today you are going to be asked to complete a difficult task in your teams. In this activity, you will only be successful if you pay attention to the needs of your team and don't give up. Your task is to work together to create sets."

Process
1. **Passing Out Materials (2 minutes) -** If this activity is being used to randomly assign groups, the facilitator will pass out the various envelopes randomly to participants as they enter. If not, then the envelopes that have either the same color cards or same color envelopes will be given to each group accordingly and then skip to #3. 2. **Finding Teammates (3 minutes) -** Once participants have their envelope, they should be asked to find their team members and have a seat at a table or on the ground. Those are the individuals that have the same color envelopes or same color cards. 3. **Practicing Identifying Sets (5 minutes)** **-** The facilitator should explain that the object of the activity is for the team to work together to make sets of three cards. Each card has a had an image that displays the following characteristics a particular shape, color, fill pattern, and number of shapes. The facilitator should explain that a set is defined as a group of three cards where each of the characteristics are **Either** all of the same **or** all different. Then the facilitator should display the four samples that are either sets or non sets and have the group identify them as such to make sure that the idea of sets is well understood. 4. **Explaining the Rules** **(3 minutes) -** Once all participants understand what a set is, the facilitator should explain the rules of the activity. 5. **Playing the Game (10-20 minutes) -** Each team will observe the rules as they work to make their sets. After most groups have completed the activity, either stop the activity or provide a hint to remaining teams to help them move more quickly to success. 6. **Debrief (5-10 minutes) -** The facilitator will congratulate the teams that are successful, and then lead a discussion using the following prompts to discuss how the activity felt to the teams.
 * Each member of the team should work to create a set, but the cards in each individual envelope will not make a set, so the team will need to trade cards.
 * A set is defined as a group of three cards where each of the four characteristics are **Either** all of the same **or** all different.
 * 1) **Color** - Red, Blue or Green
 * 2) **Shape -** Rectangle, L-shape, or Triangle
 * 3) **Fill Pattern -** Solid, Outline, or Dotted
 * 4) **Number of Shapes -** 1, 2, or 3
 * Once the facilitator says, "GO," each player should open their envelope and lay their cards face up on the table in front of them.
 * There is **no talking, pointing, gesturing, or any other form of communication** allowed during the activity
 * The only way that a card can be exchanged is if a team member gives one of their cards to another team members. **You may NOT take cards or simply place unwanted cards in the center**.
 * The team is not successful until all team members have made a set. Once your team is successful, raise your hand so that the facilitator can examine your work.

Debrief

 * How well do you feel that your team did during this activity?
 * What were some things your team did successfully? What skills or strategies seemed to help?
 * What were some sources of frustrations? What actions or attitudes slowed your team down? (*note to facilitator - it is likely that this activity will have caused frustration for groups because the task was difficult or team members weren't paying attention. Make sure in this discussion to hit on the fact that frustration is common-place in group work and in learning and ask teams how they can overcome frustration.)
 * If you think of this activity as a metaphor for a team working to complete a task, what does a set represent? What does the fact that all envelope contain different pieces that do not complete a set represent? What does this tell you about teamwork?

Solution to the Sets Activity



 * [[image:Solution_1_&_2.jpg width="269" height="346"]] || [[image:Solution_3_&_4.jpg width="257" height="332"]] ||

Credits
"FREE Toronto-Vancouver-US-Canada corporate Broken Squares Team Game plus Amazing Race, Apprentice, Survivor." __Business Training And Corporate Team Building Activities USA-Canada-Toronto-Vancouver Events including Amazing Race, Apprentice, Survivor, Millionaire__. 27 Oct. 2008 .

"SET� Card Game." __The Set Game Company Homepage__. 27 Oct. 2008 .